London: Queen Elizabeth II sent her "sincere condolences" to the wounded and the families of those killed Wednesday in the attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

In a rare response to an international news event, the monarch and her husband sent a message to French President Francois Hollande offering their "thoughts and prayers" to those affected.

Heavily-armed gunmen massacred 12 people after bursting into the Paris offices of the Charlie Hebdo weekly, which had long outraged hardline Muslims with controversial cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed.

"Prince Philip and I send our sincere condolences to the families of those who have been killed and to those who have been injured in the attack in Paris this morning," Queen Elizabeth said.

"We send our thoughts and prayers to all those who have been affected."

The 88-year-old`s last state visit abroad was to France in June 2014 as part of the 70th anniversary commemorations of D-Day.

The message was sent from Sandringham House, the sovereign`s private residence in eastern England where the royals traditionally spend their winter break.